Hero female cop Amy Scott who shot Westfield Bondi Junction killer dead is honoured for her bravery
A police officer who single-handedly chased, confronted and shot a man who fatally stabbed six people at a Sydney shopping center will be publicly praised for her bravery.
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, hailed as a hero for ending the stabbing death of Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield, will receive an award at the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday.
Insp Scott was carrying out routine checks near the shopping center when the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, April 13.
After bystanders directed her to the scene, the officer approached the 40-year-old Queensland man on level five of the complex as shoppers fled and others were injured.
When Cauchi refused to put the knife down, Insp Scott fired a single shot into his chest, causing him to fall to the ground.
Inspector Amy Scott (pictured) shot dead Joel Cauchi at the Westfield shopping center in Sydney’s east, after killing six people and wounding many more, including a baby
Joel Cauchi is pictured holding the knife he used to kill six people in Bondi Junction
She then walked over and gave him CPR until paramedics arrived, but Cauchi could not be revived.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the officer’s bravery in responding to danger.
“There is no doubt that she saved lives,” he told attendees at a memorial service for the victims in April.
“It reminds us that the people who wear uniforms are people who rush toward danger, not away from it.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns also praised the officer’s “instinctive courage” as she “ran into danger” and “without a doubt saved many, many lives”.
Mr Cauchi’s family later released a statement saying Insp Scott was “just doing her job to protect others, and we hope she is doing well.”
The attack killed six people and injured dozens more.
Five women – Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pikria Darchia, 55, Jade Young, 47, and Yixuan Cheng, 27 – were killed, along with security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
Witnesses said that when Inspector Scott (left) shouted “Put it down” at Cauchi (right), the knifeman charged at her, leaving her with no choice but to shoot him.